On Wednesday CBS 2’s Wendy Gillette brought you an interview with a woman mugged in a New York City subway station. The attack was caught on surveillance video.

And many of you wanted to help.

The shocking video certainly got viewers’ attention. An 81-year-old woman on her way home from cleaning offices was robbed and thrown to the ground by a heartless thief near a turnstile inside the Fulton Street station.

Madeline Klima spoke about her ordeal Wednesday as she recovers from a fractured shoulder and head injury.

“Why? Why’d she have to hurt so bad?” Klima asked Gillette.

Right after the story aired, CBSNewYork.com started getting emails and phone calls from viewers wanting to help.

Melani Nardone offered a $500 donation.

“I felt so badly that someone that age, who’s so vulnerable and working so hard, was attacked, you know, in such a cowardly manner. And my heart went out to her,” Nardone said.

Lori Lynn was also moved into action.

“I want her to feel safe. I want her to know there are good people out there and not everyone’s like the person that attacked her,” Lynn said.

Gillette brought the contributions to Klima’s home in Brooklyn.

Gillette told Klima the people actually donated $600 to her, to which she responded “Oh thank you. I don’t know what to say.”

The thief got away with three paychecks, which Klima’s boss cancelled and reissued.

She said she’s stunned strangers would also wanted to help.

“I can’t explain it, it feels wonderful. No words,” she said bursting into tears.

One Comment

It’s amazing to me to see how such an awful story has turned into such a caring and hopeful story. My heart goes out to Ms. Kilma. I interned at CBS2 last summer and will definitely said a donation for her to the station. It’s a great feeling to know there are still SO many caring people in this world!

Hi,
Thank you for your interest in the story. I am the reporter who worked on it.
If you would like to make a donation, make a check payable to Madeline Klima and send it in care of me, Wendy Gillette at CBS News, 4th floor, 524 West 57th Street, NY, NY 10019. We will then make sure she gets the donations. And we would never make the victim’s address public. We didn’t even show her neighborhood. The thief may have gotten Klima’s address from the contents in her purse but police have advised her on which precautions she should take. We would never endanger her further. Thank you for caring enough to comment and also make donations. She was very appreciative yesterday.
Wendy Gillette

My thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Klima….How the coward who attacked this woman can sleep at night is amazing…I hope Law Enforcement finds this sleeze and puts her away…..Please let me know where contributions are sent….

Your story on Madeline Klima has touched me. I feel so sad that an 81 year old women is out cleaning offices at her age- and then to get mugged on her way home -Its just horrible.!
I would like to add to the donations people are sending for her – hopefully it will help make her life a little easier, in some small way.
Please let me know where I can send it.

THATS GREAT TO SEE THAT AN 81 YEAR OLD WOMAN CAN GET UP AND GO TO WORK EVERYDAY BUT YET THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THEIR 20’S, 30’S AND 40’S THAT ARE ABLE TO WORK BUT LEECH OFF THE SYSTEM AND COLLECT WELFARE BECAUSE THEY ARE TO LAZY TO GO TO WORK. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND FOLLOW THIS 81 YEAR OLDS EXAMPLE OF WHAT PRIDE IS. IT WAS MOST LIKELY ONE OF THESE ANIMALS WHO DID THIS TO THIS HARD WORKING WOMAN.

As soon as I heard of this horrible news, I cried and wanted to help Ms. Klima. I have great empathy for Ms. Klima. Please allow me and inform me of how I can help out, make a donation to Ms. Klima. Thank you.

HAPPY TO HEAR THAT SOME GOOD PEOPLE HELPED. I WOULD ALSO DONATE IF SHE NEEDS MORE. I HOPE THEY CATCH THE CREEP THAT DID THIS TO HER. SHE IS A STRONG WOMAN AT 81 STILL WORKING. REMINDS ME OF MY GRANDMOTHER’S LET ME KNOW IF I COULD HELP.

why was she holding 3 uncashed pay checks? Reminds me of a guy who used to work in the Post Office.He would carry around numerous uncashed pay checks put rubberbands around his shoes looked like a real pauper and had thousands in stocks and bank accounts.

I would like to donate but without putting this woman at any further risk to the evil people in this world. Here is an 81 year old still cleaning offices and this brazen thief violently steals from her. I am thoroughly disgusted by the suspect in that video.

WE feel very bad for Ms.Klima, and can’t imagine how anyone could be so heartless. We would liike to send some monetary help. Please let us know the correct address and attention to whom? Since my husband and are both retired,all this computer stuff is new to us and we are still learning.

HOPEFULLY CBS CAN NOTE AN ADDRESS ON WHERE WE CAN SEND
SOME MONETARY HELP FOR THIS WOMEN WHO IS STILL WORKING SO HARD AT HER AGE – I AM SURE SHE WILL APPRECIATE ANYTHING – TO STILL BE WORKING AT HER AGE MEANS SHE IS IN NEED – GOD BLESS HER

So, now the criminal has her address, assuming she looked through her purse and has seen her on television and has seen her getting $600. If she wanted to go after this woman now, it wouldn’t be hard to find her. Do journalists not think of these things before exposing this woman to more potential crime?

I don’t think the person that did this is going to look this woman up, go to her house and rob her. I know, anything can happen, but I’m willing to bet that the suspect is either homeless or drug/alcohol involved that she doesn’t know which way is up. Nevertheless, if Ms. K ‘s address is made public, I will be sending this lovely hardworking senior some money! As for her medical bills, I hope medicare and the city will take care of that!

I LIVE IN OCEAN COUNTY NEW JERSEY – I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION AND HELP THE WOMEN IN THIS STORY – YOUR NEW STATION SHOULD TAKE UP A COLLECTION ALSO FOR HER ON THE 6PM NEWS. PLEASE EMAIL WHERE I MAY SEND MY DONATION TO OR PUT ON TOMORROWS EVENING NEWS , THANK YOU

What a wonderful story of how good can come from such a horrible event. While the kindness of those who donated will help her financially, I am sure this will go a long way to helping her emotionally as well.